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Slow-Cooker Beef Chili: The Ultimate Set-It-and-Forget-It Comfort Food

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This Slow-Cooker Beef Chili recipe is the easiest way to make classic comfort food! Hearty, flavorful, and perfect for feeding a crowd. Just set it and forget it for 6 hours!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 lb ground beef (85% lean)
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp ground cumin
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • Pinch of cayenne or chipotle chili powder (optional)
  • 2 (15 oz) cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup beer, low-sodium beef broth, or water
  • 1 lime, halved
  • Optional toppings: Fritos, shredded cheddar, scallions, sour cream

Instructions

  1. In a skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add onion, season with salt, and cook 7–9 minutes until softened.
  2. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1–2 minutes until brick red. Transfer to slow cooker.
  3. In same skillet, brown ground beef with salt and pepper for about 5 minutes.
  4. Add chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and cayenne. Stir 1 minute to bloom spices. Transfer beef to slow cooker with slotted spoon.
  5. Add beans, crushed tomatoes, and liquid (beer, broth, or water) to slow cooker. Stir to combine and season.
  6. Cover and cook on LOW for 4–6 hours. For thicker chili, remove lid in last 20 minutes.
  7. Squeeze lime juice over chili. Stir and adjust seasoning. Serve with toppings of choice.

Notes

Don’t skip browning the meat and blooming the spices—it builds essential flavor. For extra depth, deglaze the skillet with a splash of broth or beer and add to the chili. Freezes well for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker chili, beef chili, crockpot chili, game day food, easy comfort food

Find it online: https://alexandrarecipes.com/slow-cooker-beef-chili-recipe/